WREXHAM'S Trinidad internationals Dennis Lawrence and Carlos Edwards have put club before country as the Easter weekend heralds the final and crucial stages of the Third Division promotion race.

WREXHAM'S Trinidad internationals Dennis Lawrence and Carlos Edwards have put club before country as the Easter weekend heralds the final and crucial stages of the Third Division promotion race.

The pair have pulled out of next week's Caribbean play-off matches which will determine whether Trinidad & Tobago qualify for the final stages of the Gold Cup tournament being staged in the USA and Mexico in July.

Central defender Lawrence, whose stature has grown immensely during a run of nearly 20 consecutive games for the Dragons, yesterday said there was never any question of divided loyalties.

"At this stage of the season it's more important for us to be playing here than back in the Caribbean," he said. "It's a question of balancing club and international football. Both Carlos and I were involved with Trinidad at the end of last month.

"It's about give and take and the football authorities in Trinidad understand and accept that."

Next week's Gold Cup playoffs see Trinidad take on Martinique and Honduras in a round-robin series from which two countries will qualify for the summer finals - the dates of which clash with Wrexham's pre-season trip to the annual Isle of Man tournament - and Lawrence is optimistic that new coach Zoran Vanic will steer them through.

"I spoke to Vanic and told him I was committed to Wrexham for this very important stage of the season but I've wished them well next week.

"Other players here involved in promotion and relegation, such as Stern John, Clayton Ince and Shaka Hisl o p, are staying in the country too so we are all keeping our fingers crossed that Trinidad go through."

Lo o k i n g ahead to Wrexham' s five remaining matches, Lawrence said automatic promotion was in the Racecourse club's own hands. "It's going to be tough but we have to stay positive," he added.

"It's in our own hands and we need to keep on doing the right things and getting the right results. A little bit of luck along the way would not go amiss, though, because it's not just us fighting for the third spot. There are a few other sides going for it as well, so we must stay focused and take each game as it comes."

Lawrence played down his part in Wrexham's nine-match unbeaten run, which has seen them climb from 10th place to third, saying: "I'm just enjoying my football at the moment but it's not about individuals so much as about the team. I just go into a match with the attitude of giving 100pc and getting the job done."

Wrexham manager Denis Smith, who watched tomorrow's opponents Kidderminster Harriers keep their faint play-off hopes alive with a 1-0 midweek win at Rochdale, said: "To be fair, the scoreline did not do them justice and on that performance they deserve to be in with a shout of the play-offs."

The Dragons are almost certain to be without midfielder Paul Barrett for tomorrow's trip to Aggborough and there was further concern for Smith when Jim Whitley cried off from training yesterday.

"Jim has gone down ill and for him to miss training it must be serious," he said.

"I don't know but you would have to say he was extremely doubtful at this stage and the same applies to Paul Barrett who picked up an ankle injury against Rhyl on Monday which has turned out to be more serious than we thought at first."